Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Darwin

For one person, living is cheaper in Gothenburg: $2,008 a month against $3,073 in Darwin, rent and utilities included – about $12,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gothenburg, Sweden
Darwin, Australia
Gothenburg
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,008
/mo nomad
Darwin
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,073
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gothenburg and in Darwin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gothenburg and in Darwin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,008 in Gothenburg versus $3,073 in Darwin.

  • Gothenburg $2,008
  • Darwin $3,073

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,067 in Gothenburg versus $4,118 in Darwin.

  • Gothenburg $3,067
  • Darwin $4,118

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,127 in Gothenburg versus $5,163 in Darwin.

  • Gothenburg $4,127
  • Darwin $5,163

Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 35% less than in Darwin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg 48% above, Darwin 126% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.67 SEK 136
$22.40 A$31.83
-38.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.7 SEK 861
$90.7 A$129
-4.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.40 SEK 123
$11.36 A$16.14
9.15%
Cappuccino
$5.04 SEK 50.1
$4.23 A$6.01
19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 SEK 29.66
$3.46 A$4.91
-13.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 SEK 23.17
$3.01 A$4.28
-22.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.88 SEK 68.3
$7.57 A$10.75
-9.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.57 SEK 75.2
$7.57 A$10.76
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 SEK 17.17
$1.54 A$2.19
12.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 SEK 27.69
$3.04 A$4.32
-8.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 SEK 32.35
$2.20 A$3.13
48.18%
Eggs
$3.90 SEK 38.72
$4.47 A$6.35
-12.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.25 SEK 112
$8.92 A$12.67
26.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.57 SEK 115
$8.31 A$11.81
39.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.43 SEK 163
$8.85 A$12.57
85.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 SEK 29.89
$3.85 A$5.46
-21.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 SEK 24.35
$2.88 A$4.09
-14.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 28.82
$2.80 A$3.98
3.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.49 SEK 44.62
$5.03 A$7.14
-10.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 SEK 18.17
$2.55 A$3.62
-28.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 SEK 16.56
$2.30 A$3.27
-27.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 SEK 20.35
$2.06 A$2.92
-0.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 SEK 15.91
$2.17 A$3.09
-26.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.35 SEK 82.9
$45.35 A$64.4
-81.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 SEK 151
$12.15 A$17.27
24.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 SEK 20.28
$10.13 A$14.39
-79.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 SEK 22.38
$7.87 A$11.18
-71.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.83 SEK 38.01
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.4 SEK 858
$48.37 A$68.7
78.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.21 SEK 61.6
$3.69 A$5.25
68.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 SEK 16.57
$1.35 A$1.91
23.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.2 SEK 588
$48.52 A$68.9
21.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 SEK 17.40
$1.33 A$1.89
31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K SEK 331.8K
$30.0K A$42.6K
11.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 335.6K
$33.4K A$47.4K
1.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 SEK 1,029
$215 A$305
-51.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.70 SEK 196
$33.49 A$47.58
-41.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.35 SEK 341
$60.9 A$86.6
-43.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.01 SEK 338
$73.0 A$104
-53.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.39 SEK 242
$28.22 A$40.10
-13.57%
Cinema Ticket
$16.98 SEK 169
$16.99 A$24.14
-0.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 SEK 2,207
$1,939 A$2,755
-88.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 SEK 43.1K
$8,442 A$12.0K
-48.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 SEK 881
$85.2 A$121
4.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.91 SEK 327
$46.52 A$66.1
-29.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 SEK 872
$106 A$150
-16.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 SEK 1,331
$138 A$196
-2.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 SEK 11.0K
$1,719 A$2,442
-35.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$874 SEK 8,678
$1,709 A$2,428
-48.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,861 SEK 18.5K
$2,803 A$3,982
-33.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 SEK 13.9K
$2,124 A$3,019
-34.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,415 SEK 63.7K
$3,771 A$5,359
70.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,026 SEK 40.0K
$3,536 A$5,024
13.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Darwin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,521 SEK 35.0K
$4,223 A$6,001
-16.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.06
6.14
-50.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gothenburg: October 27, 2026

Last update for Darwin: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
$874
Darwin
$1.7K 95.6% $835
Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
$360
Darwin
$377 4.9% $18
Eating Out
Gothenburg
$278
Darwin
$343 23.4% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
$158
Darwin
$309 96% $151
Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
$155
Darwin
$169 9.3% $14
Getting Around
Gothenburg
$116
Darwin
$59 * 49.4% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
$68
Darwin
$107 57.3% $39

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,107 in Gothenburg and $1,719 in Darwin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Darwin pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $87 in Gothenburg vs $91 in Darwin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $377 per month, with Gothenburg cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Gothenburg
🇦🇺 Darwin
🕒 Local time
18:41 6:41 PM
03:11 3:11 AM
8 h 30 min ahead of Gothenburg
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
607,882
122,207
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.93 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.06 SEK (100 SEK = 9.05 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gothenburg Darwin 12,870 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gothenburg
  • Darwin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Gothenburg vs Darwin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gothenburg cheaper than Darwin?
Gothenburg is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and leisure. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gothenburg or Darwin?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Gothenburg. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Gothenburg and Darwin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,107 in Gothenburg versus $1,719 in Darwin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Gothenburg and in Darwin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Darwin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Gothenburg or in Darwin?
Dining out is cheaper in Gothenburg – a meal for two runs $87 versus $91 in Darwin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Gothenburg or in Darwin?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Gothenburg is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Gothenburg or in Darwin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Gothenburg or Darwin?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Darwin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Gothenburg wins on affordability, Darwin on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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